Arm adjuster



B. A. HOWER 2,443,681

ARM ADJUS TER June 22, 1 948.

Filed June 27, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l June 22, 1948.

B. A. HOWER ARM ADJUSTER Filed June 27, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 22, y 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ARM ADJUSTER Bruce A. Hower, Gary, Ind. Application June 27, 1945, Serial No 601,781

Claims.

This invention relates to an arm adjusting or holding means for holding the arms of a corpse after the embalming operation so that the arms will be properly set prior to the time of rigor mortis.

An object of this invention is to provide an arm adjuster or clamping means which is adapted to engage beneath the body or cadaver with the, latter resting on the undertakers table and which after completion of the embalming operations is adapted to clamp the arms prior to the time that the latter become set in a predetermined position. It is well known that after a corpse has been worked upon by an undertaker, the limbs are adjusted and the corpse or cadaver is then left to set in the predetermined position. After this setting period has transpired the limbs will firmly remain in their set position and if the limbs are slightly moved they will return to their originally set position. It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a clamping means which is adapted to engage the two arms of the body and hold these arms in adjusted position at points above the elbows with the hands resting over the body so that the arms will be firmly clamped during the setting period.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device of this kind which is simple in construction and which can be disassembled for insertion beneath the body When the latter is resting on the table.

To the foregoing objects, and others which may hereinafter more fully appear, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as will be more specifically referred to and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, but it is to be understood that changes, variations, and modifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a detail end elevation of an undertakers table having an arm clamping device constructed according to an embodiment of this invention mounted thereof,

Figure 2 is a plan view of the device partly broken away,

Figure 3 is a detail end elevation of the device,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line i l of Figure 2,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 2,

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 6-45 of Figure 2,

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional View taken on the line of Figure 4,

Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 88 of Figure 5, and

Figure 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Figure 6. 1

Referring to the drawings, thenumeral l9 designates generally an undertakers table structure including a top ll carried by a standard I3. An arms adjusting or clamping means is adapted to engage on the upper surface of the top H and comprises an formed at one end with a right angular upstanding extension [4. The extension 14 is adapted to be inserted between the" innerside of-one arm and the adjacent side oi -the body and the bar I2 is adapted to be extended beneath the back of the body at a point where the upstanding bar M will be positioned slightly above one elbow of an arm.

A second upstanding bar or pipe 15 is adjustably carried by the bar [4 being threaded into one branch I6 of a T-shaped coupling H. The coupling l! is formed with aligned branches l8 and I9 which have smooth inner surfaces so that the bar l2 may freely slide therethrough. The coupling [1 is firmly secured in adjusted position along the length of the bar 12 by means of a set screw 29. A horizontally disposed supporting bar 2! extends laterally from the upright M and is threaded at its inner end into one branch 22 of an L-shaped coupling 23. The coupling 23 is provided with a bore 24 extending therethrough at right angles to the branch 22 and the bore 2:3

slidably receives the upright H. A set screw 29 is threaded through the coupling 23 and engages the upright so that the lateral extension 2! may be vertically adjusted with respect to the upright M. The extension :2! has adjustably secured thereto a depending arm clamping member or bar 26. The bar 26 is threaded into one branch 21' of a T-shaped coupling 28 which is formed with unthreaded aligned branches 29 and 39. A set screw 3| is threaded through the coupling 29 and engages the bar or pipe 2|, so as to hold the depending arm engaging member 26 in adjusted position lengthwise of the supporting bar 2!.

In the use and operation of this adjuster, the upright bar I5 is initially removed from the horizontal bar l2 and the extension 2| with its coupling 23 is removed from the upright M. The bar I2 is then inserted beneath the back of the body adjacent the shoulder blades and the upright I4 is extended between one arm and the adjacent side of the body. The upright i5 is elongated bar or pipe 12, which is.

26 will engage the opposite arm at'a point above] the elbow 'in order to tightly clamp this arm prior to the setting period of the body. After the body has set in its adjusted position the arm clamping or adjusting device hereinbefore described may be removed by taking off the clamping member l5 and the supporting barw2l and then withdrawing the integral members l 2 and 14.

The exact configuration illustrated is regarded as optimum, but some of the desirable results inherent in this disclosure may be obtained by various slight modifications including some departure from the exactconfigiirationshowmand it'is'therefore requestedthat the scope of-the invention should' be I regarded as limited only by the terms of the'claims.

What I claim is:

1. -An arm holding means for a cadaver'comprisinga member for-positioning beneath the cadaver, an upright arm engaging" member carried'bysaid first member, an upright bar carried by said first r member: engageablewith a side of the torso oppositelytfrom said first'zuprightmember, a second arm engaging'means carried by said upright bar and extending from said upright bar and means adjustably 'mounting 'said second arm engaging means thereon.

2. An arm holding means as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first named member is elongated, and means adjustably mounting said first upright member on said first named member.

3. An arm holding means for a cadaver comprising an elongated bar for positioning beneath the cadaver, an upright bar integral with one end of said bar and engageable against one side of thetorso, a second upright bar engageable with an'arm Lof t'he cadaver, means adjustably mounting saidsecond upright bar on said first named vbar, a horizontal bar extending from said first upright bar, and a depending arm engaging member-I'carried by said horizontal bar.

4. ,An arm holding means as set forth in claim 3*incluHin'g-means adjustably securing said horizontal bar on said-first upright bar.

5. An arm holding means as set forth in claim 3-including means adjustably securing said depending arm engaging member on said horizontal bar.

BRTJf-Jlil- A.- HOWER.

' REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this-patent:

-UNITED STATES PATENTS Number v 'Name Date 1',451',5.6l Allebrand et a1 Apr. 10,1923 1,740,344 .I-Ieinz Dec. .17, 1929 1','799;781 Chalfant Apr. '7, 1931 $207,968 Erasure July 16, 1940 

